The American Medical Temperance Association was formed in 1891. Sixty-one doctor attending the annual meeting of the American Medical Association met that year. They adopted a constitution and by-laws.

The group stated its purpose to be “The practice of total abstention in and through the medical profession, and the promotion of investigations as to the action of alcohol in health and disease.”¹ Membership required total abstention. But members were free to use alcohol as a medicine at their discretion.

American Medical Temperance Association

In 1893, the eccentric Dr. John Harvey Kellogg joined the group. He  was the inventor of the corn flakes that still carry his name.

Dr. Kellogg began publishing the quarterly Bulletin of the American Medical Temperance Association. It was published until the Association joined with the American Association for the Study and Cure of Inebriety (AASCI). At that time, it was merged into the Journal of Inebriety.

It held its annual meetings at the same time and place as those of the AMA. By 1904 membership had grown to 150. It then joined with the AASCI.

The new organization was the American Medical Society for the Study of Alcohol and Other Narcotics. Publication of the Journal of Inebriety ceased in 1914. Membership continued declining and the Association gradually fell into oblivion.

Of course, today we know that light to moderate drinking is linked with good health. It also tends to be linked with longer life. For more, see Alcohol & Health.

Resources

Web

• • Beginnings of the Temp movement. (One of a 7-part series.)
  • Alcohol in the 19th Century – Beginning of Temp.   (One of a 10-part series.)
  • Temp Leaders.
  • Places with Temp Hist.

Readings

• • Davis, N. Address on the objects of the Am Med Temp Assn. JAMA, 1892, 19(2), 29-32.
  • Bulletin of the Am Med Temp Assn.
  • Am Med Temp Quarterly.

Footnote

1 Cherrington, E., et al (eds.) Standard Encyclopedia of the Alcohol Problem, v. 1, 1925, p. 156.